COPENHAGEN, Denmark – When you’ve adopted the automotive trade for lengthy sufficient, you seemingly keep in mind when SUVs made by firms recognized for low-slung sports activities vehicles had been the topic of controversial headlines. Quick-forward to 2023, and the controversial has turn into commonplace. Large people-movers with supercar-like energy are the established order within the luxurious section, they normally outsell their extra poster-friendly stablemates by a large margin, and most of the firms who aren’t already on this bandwagon are searching for a spot to leap on.
Unveiled in 2017, the Lamborghini Urus has amassed a major following (it’s the Italian model’s best-seller) and a rising checklist of rivals that features the Aston Martin DBX. Whereas it’s now not the latest child on the block, it not too long ago obtained a spherical of updates and gained a range-topping Performante variant.
“We obtained quite a lot of new clients with the Urus,” mentioned Luca Pacini, Lamborghini’s head of R&D technique and tasks coordination. “We’re completely satisfied that folks acknowledge the Lamborghini model in it, and we determined to characterize it much more by providing a wider vary that stretches from consolation to efficiency — efficiency is Lamborghini’s DNA, in spite of everything. This caters to the calls for of our clients.”
Releasing a sportier Urus makes excellent sense since sister firm Bentley and rival Aston Martin each provide higher-spec variants of their SUVs. Nonetheless, calling it “Performante” is a daring transfer as a result of Lamborghini has traditionally reserved this nameplate for hardcore evolutions of its V10-powered fashions. It’s not merely a advertising and marketing pirouette: the Pikes Peak record-setting Urus Performante stands out from the Urus S with a particular physique equipment that features a redesigned entrance splitter and a fairly refined roof-mounted spoiler. Lamborghini claims these updates contribute to a not-insignificant 8% improve in downforce.
Carbon fiber elements (just like the vented hood) and a titanium exhaust system designed by Akrapovič assist make the Performante about 104 kilos lighter than the Urus S, although it nonetheless suggestions the dimensions at roughly 4,740 kilos. Mild? Effectively … sure, sort of. Though the uber-Urus weighs about twice as a lot as a brand new Mazda MX-5 Miata, not one of the fashions it competes in opposition to qualify for the “light-weight” label. Aston’s DBX 707 checks in at 4,940 kilos and each Bentayga variant weighs greater than 5,000.
Chassis adjustments are a part of the Performante therapy as nicely. Lamborghini changed the adaptive, height-adjustable air struts it places within the Urus S with less complicated metal springs, although it retained the electromechanical energetic roll stabilization system and retuned it. These updates give the Performante a decrease experience peak (20 mm), and Lamborghini additionally widened the entrance and rear tracks (16 mm) to clear house for big tires.
What the Performante doesn’t get is further energy. It ships with the identical 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 discovered within the Urus S. The eight-cylinder develops 657 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 627 pound-feet of torque from 2,300 to 4,500 rpm, and it channels this output to the 4 wheels through an eight-speed automated transmission and a Torsen heart differential. Lamborghini quotes a zero-to-62-mph time of three.3 seconds (down from 3.5 for the S) and a prime pace of 190 mph (just a few tenths greater than the S).
Extra energy could be troublesome to argue in opposition to, however Lamborghini’s rationale is that the Performante doesn’t have to take all-you-can-eat turns on the horsepower counter. Its mission is to ship the best-possible dealing with moderately than the best-possible acceleration or the highest-possible prime pace. That is the Urus you need to tackle a visit throughout the Rockies, not one you need to take to the closest drag strip.
Not that I might be driving within the Rockies. The very best level in Denmark stands at 561 toes above sea degree, which quantities to a rounding error in Colorado, so I didn’t precisely have the chance to wring out the Performante on mountain roads, however driving it back-to-back with the Urus S highlighted the adjustments that set these two bulls aside.
Inside, each variants of the Urus feel and look like driver’s vehicles. Neither share any vital elements with the Huracán however the cabin’s fundamental structure is analogous: sitting on a nicely-bolstered sport seat, the driving force faces a meaty three-spoke steering wheel with a 12-o’clock mark, shift paddles, and a digital instrument cluster. Match and end are glorious, which you’d rightfully count on in a automobile with a house-like price ticket.
My tester featured Alcantara upholstery, orange stitching that matches the paint, and yards of carbon fiber. If that’s not your cup of tea, there are millions of methods to configure both Urus variant.
Raise the purple, fighter jet-inspired flap to push the ignition button (or, in case your pinky is skinny sufficient, attempt to push the button via the opening within the flap) and the distinction between the S and the Performante is audible. The titanium exhaust system saves weight and likewise helps deliver extra of the engine’s symphony into the cabin, particularly when “Sport” mode is chosen. It’s not overkill, we’re not speaking a couple of 25-year-old econobox with a four-inch exhaust, and it doesn’t drone when you get transferring. It sounds good, and it’s an on the spot reminder of why many lovers are fascinated by engines and the oily bits in them.
Round city, the S and the Performante aren’t tremendously completely different. It’s when visitors clears and the tempo picks up that the latter feels noticeably extra hardcore than the previous. Whereas it’s not a stripped-out observe automobile, the throttle response is crisper and the steering feels higher linked to the wheels. The suspension adjustments make a large distinction, too: though the Performante’s metal springs ship a experience that’s reasonably harsher than the air setup within the S, in addition they unlock sharper and extra predictable dealing with. You don’t have to go flat-out on an Italian race observe to inform the distinction between the 2.
The brakes are the identical: 10-piston entrance calipers that grip 17.3-inch carbon-ceramic rotors (that’s over 2 inches larger than the Miura’s wheels!) and single-piston rear calipers mounted over 14.5-inch rotors. This {hardware} is greater than as much as the duty of confidently slowing down a 4,700-pound brute.
Not injecting further energy into the drivetrain isn’t essentially a nasty factor. Would, say, 40 further horses harm? Hell no, the concept of a 700-horsepower Lamborghini SUV is pleasant, however the twin-turbo V8 is easy and many responsive as-is thanks partially to the broad torque band. Peak torque isn’t distant, and the transmission delivers fast shifts no matter whether or not you utilize the paddles or let it do its personal factor. Moreover, numbers don’t inform the entire story: the 2 Urus variants look related in comparison on paper however on the highway, the Performante clearly stands proud because the fanatic’s alternative — it’s extra driver-focused, and it behaves just like the big-boned, family-friendly five-seater sports activities automobile that it’s.
Attempting out the Performante-specific Rally mode on Denmark’s community of public roads sounded unwise; it primarily permits the driving force to kick the rear finish out right into a drift on unfastened surfaces. I wager it’s a hoot, however I do know the price of a parking ticket in Denmark (right here’s a touch: it ain’t low cost) and I don’t want to uncover the price of a reckless driving conviction. However, the snow and ice that I encountered within the extra rural elements of the nation allowed me to place grip to the check. Despite all of the carbon fiber bits, the hunkered-down suspension, and the roaring exhaust, the Urus drives very very like a traditional, all-wheel-drive SUV on frozen roads, particularly when it’s driving on a top-notch set of snow tires. I used frequent sense and didn’t fear about highway circumstances; I trusted that the assorted digital driving aids would do their factor to maintain the sharp entrance finish pointed in the suitable path, and so they didn’t frighten or fail me.
Pricing is one other one of many main variations between the 2 Urus flavors. Lamborghini expenses about $230,000 for the S and round $261,000 for the Performante — in principle, you should buy the Urus S and a brand new Subaru BRZ and have just a few grand left for a set of autocross tires. Whether or not this premium is price it relies on the place and the way you drive. When you want a commuter, odds are you received’t profit from the spicy mixture of a set metal suspension and additional aerodynamic bits. When you want a commuter and a canyon-storming weekender, even when mentioned canyon isn’t paved, the Performante ticks each packing containers in a method that very practically makes it really feel (and sound!) like an overgrown scorching hatch with supercar-like energy.
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